Home / Syllabus

Instructors BTT office at EIB 273 (once back on campus):

• • Dale Reed: email (remove spaces): reed @ uic.edu Web: Reed and teaching page at bit.ly/dalereed Schedule drop-in times here

  • Jackie Moore: email (remove spaces): RoboticsLady @ gmail.com Web: Moore

TAs (remove spaces inside the email addresses):

• • Trish Le email (remove spaces): tle87 @ uic.edu

  • Annie You email (remove spaces): ayou4 @ uic.edu

  • Megan Herrera email (remove spaces): mherre42 @ uic.edu

Student drop-in Times (Office Hours): See CS 111 TA & Drop-in Times page. We're also available immediately after class, or by appointment.

Prerequisites: None.

It is fine for you to be taking this course and not know anything about computers. We assume that it is likely you known how to search on the Internet, create and manipulate documents using Microsoft Office and/or Google docs, but if you don't know how to do these things then it is completely appropriate for us to help you with basic questions you may have.

Each of you has the potential to master the content in this course. It will take work, but I think you will find it enjoyable! We as the instructional staff will provide structure for step-by-step learning, and are available to provide additional resources when that is helpful. It is normal to experience challenges, and for some of you the road to success in some assignments may take more effort than for others. You also may be an expert in one topic but struggle in another.

• 1. Our CS 111 Zybook course textbook is online and is available for free to you through a special arrangement for this semester's course. Register to access the book using these instructions:

     1. 1. Sign in or create an account at learn.zybooks.com

        2. Enter zyBook code UICCS111Spring2022

        3. Subscribe. A subscription is $0. You may begin subscribing on Dec 18, 2021 and the cutoff to subscribe is Apr 21, 2022. Subscriptions will last until May 22, 2022.We will likely also have some readings from the free online interactive book: How to Think Like a Computer Scientist: Interactive Edition

  2. iClicker Starting with the first class we will be using iClicker Cloud (a.k.a. remote access or REEF) for you to respond to in-class quizzes. This is available to you for free through UIC's site license. You can install and run the iClicker cloud software on a laptop (Mac or PC) or on a phone (iOS or Android). The installation instructions explain that you must:

     1. 1. Create an iClicker online account using your UIC email (otherwise you'll have to pay for it). Create your account by visiting the iClicker student web app or by downloading the mobile app from the App Store or Google Play. Select Sign Up!

        2. On the site or within the app, find our institution (University of Illinois at Chicago) and register yourself for our BTT CS 111 class.

        3. During class answer iClicker questions using the Web app or from your previously installed phone app.

Please contact your professor right away if you don't have a phone or computer to use for this purpose.

• 3. You will need your own Micro:bit v2 ($15-$30), standard micro USB power+data cord, battery pack, and $12 micro servo motor. We will loan you a set to begin the semester, since they are back-ordered just about everywhere online. Micro:bit v2 is not the same as the original micro:bit, since the original has no touch sensor, mic or speaker.

  4. You should have gotten an email invitation to join Piazza, the online discussion board we will be using for this class. Rather than emailing questions to us, please post your questions on Piazza, which is specifically designed to get you help quickly and efficiently from classmates, the TA, and me. We really do want to talk to you and want you to engage in conversation with each other. We believe each of us has perspective and insights to share that can help others in the class, regardless of starting point or level of expertise. Seeking help is normal and expected. We encourage you to ask any question, but recognize that sometimes this is embarrassing, which is why your posts can be anonymous to other students. To access Piazza follow the link in the navigation bar on this page. In case for some reason you didn't get the Piazza invitation, find our class signup link at: piazza.com/uic/spring2022/cs111

  5. Register for Replit, the online programming environment we'll be using in learning programming. You should have received an email invitation to Replit. If you can't find it, use this link: https://replit.com/teams/join/dwqrazkwacjflwglfjghcjqigjixuihu-BTT-CS-111

  6. Download and register for Zoom through UIC's web site using these instructions, which will direct you to the Zoom downloads page. We recommend you use the Google Chrome browser. To join our lecture and lab Zoom sessions you will need to be logged in to your browser using your UIC netid. To do this launch the Zoom app. Select "SSO" at the bottom of the login page and then supply uic as your company domain on the next screen. Be sure you are using the Zoom app (not the browser-based version) and be sure to update your software to the most recent version, otherwise you may not be able to move yourself into breakout rooms.

  7. A webcam and mic on your computer. To earn class participation credit you will need to either participate in discussions during class, or will need to write an essay for each class. More details are given below under Course Grading Criteria.

  8. Register for Flipgrid and record a 15-30 second intro video of yourself at flipgrid.com/fab992d4 providing:

     1. 1. Your name & major

        2. A hobby or something you like to do in your free time

        3. A food or restaurant you would recommend to others

We have a trade-off between the efficiency of deadlines and wanting to give you opportunities to develop mastery of all the course topics. There will be many opportunities to earn points and improve your standing in the class. Grades will be updated regularly so you know where you stand in the course. See the grades link on the navigation bar on the course web site.

40% Programming Projects

15% Zybook Exercises. As teachers we have access to what you have done in Zybooks, so no turn in is necessary after completing problems.

Labs:

• 5% Lab Quizzes must be completed individually in person at the beginning of each week's lab. Lowest score dropped.

• 5% Lab Activities (Must be done with a partner). Lowest score dropped.

Class Participation

• 10% In-class iClicker question responses. When meeting via Zoom, points are given for your full face to be seen on camera, along with written class contributions. When meeting in Zoom, a screen snapshot of cameras on will be taken at some random time during class.

Exams:

• 5% Midterm Exam #1, both in-lab and in-class portions

• 10% Midterm Exam #2, both in-lab and in-class portions

• 10% Final Exam, Midterm Exam #3, both in-lab and in-class portions

Programming Project Late Penalty

For programming assignments there will be a late penalty of 10% per day up to a maximum of 50%. All late programs must be turned in by the beginning of week 14 of the semester, which is April 18th. This means late programs may not be accepted for the last one (or two?) programs, depending on their deadlines.

Class Participation:

Meaningful social interaction can make learning more effective and enjoyable, though with Zoom we're limited to seeing and hearing each other. Using Zoom we will often work together in small teams, where you will get to know your classmates and have a role to play in accomplishing a goal as a team. Having different perspectives is valuable and will lead to better solutions. Be aware of your own role in your group and make an effort to get input from every group member.

For those of you attending class we will use Zoom professional standards: camera on, sitting up, with your entire face visible. If you are not able to meet these requirements, please contact me and we can have a conversation about it. If it is a technical problem (no camera, slow computer) I may be able to help match you up with some university resources. If you are called on during class but do not respond out-loud or in the chat, you will lose class participation points.

I recommend you experiment with setting virtual backgrounds in Zoom, to hide whatever is behind you. I recognize life is complicated with Covid-19, and that some of you may have noise and/or distracting backgrounds, and have no choice in your situation. If you want to attend class live and participate, but have a legitimate reason for not having your camera on, then for each class where that is true you will need to fill out the video being off form and respond to any follow-up conversation about it so you can still can full credit for class participation for the day even though your video is off.

Quizzes: In Class and Lab

Quizzes are given almost every class (using iClickers) and lab and are based on the assigned reading or video watching. This is to give us a common starting point for our discussions and activities. No makeup quizzes will be given.

Labs

Lab exercises will be assigned during lab and must be completed during that lab session. Labs are graded on a 3 point scale (0: didn't do it, 1: Some effort, 2: Complete, 3: Extra credit).

If you feel that you deserve more points than you have been given on a quiz, assignment, or test, you must see the instructor about this within one week of the time the grades for the work in question is first returned to the class.

Here are our class norms, established together in class on 1/12:

1. Learn from each other, asking for help and helping others

2. Answer questions kindly

3. Be patient with others and don't judge

4. Compete with yourself, not others

5. Everyone participates

6. Meet new people

7. $1 bills for participation

8. Cheer each other on

Note that the CS Department also has a Code of Conduct.

Covid Concerns

Covid-19 has put tremendous stress on us all, and want to be available to help if I can. The UIC Counseling Center offers an array of services to provide additional support throughout your time at UIC, including workshops, peer support groups, counseling, self-help tools, and initial consultations to speak to a mental health counselor about your concerns. Please visit the Counseling Center website for more information. If it feels like emotional concerns are impacting your academic success, please contact me and your academic advisers to create a plan to stay on track.

Missing Class, Religious Holidays

We make an effort to avoid having tests on religious holidays, but if we neglect to take one into account, please let us know. If you miss class because of a religious holiday, jury duty, UIC sports team event or verified sickness (we may contact your doctor) then please send the instructors a private post on Piazza and be sure to select the missing_class folder for your post. You will be given the opportunity to take a make-up exam only in cases of medical or personal emergencies, which must be verified. Doctor's notes must include their contact information. If such an emergency occurs, post a private message into the Piazza instructor's group as soon as possible. In the case of a medical emergency, if your doctor is unable to verify your visit without a signed HIPAA authorization form, you will need to complete a HIPAA authorization for release of health information form in order for me to verify that you were seen by the doctor on the date in question.

Disability Services, Letters of Accommodation (LOA)

Refer as needed to the UIC campus disability services policy which applies to students in this class. If you have special circumstances described in a letter of accommodation (LOA) from the UIC Disability office, post a message on Piazza to the Instructors, selecting the Letter_of_Accommodation folder, and we can confer with you about how to proceed. Remind your instructor before each exam of any accommodations needed.

Announcements, Sensitive matters, Incompletes, Regrade requests

1. All critical announcements, changes to assignments, etc. will be announced through Piazza. I'm assuming you will check your email regularly.

2. For highly sensitive matters, the student or someone who is supporting the student should contact the Office of the Dean of Students via the Student Care & Assistance Request or at 312 996-4857. The Dean’s staff will then contact me on your behalf. This approach has the added benefit of the Dean's staff contacting all your instructors for you, instead of you having to do it one-by-one.

3. A grade of "Incomplete" can only be given if there are extenuating circumstances and you have at least a 'C' average in the course. It cannot be given for poor performance in the course.

4. If you feel that you deserve more points than you have been given on a quiz, assignment, or test, you must see the instructor about this within one week of the time the work in question is first returned to the class. After this deadline, your claim may not be considered.

If you are struggling in the course please ask for help from us in the instructional staff, rather than representing someone else's work as your own. We believe you are capable of learning the concepts in the course and doing the work, and are committed to helping you get there. We expect you to treat other class members with respect, making a genuine effort on all assignments, discussions and class activities.

The vast majority of students do their own work, as we expect them to do. We encourage conversation and collaboration, as detailed below indicating what you may and may not do in collaboration with others. Academic dishonesty is anything that gives you an unfair academic advantage.

To receive a grade in this class you need to use this google form to enter your information and acknowledge that you have read the Academic Honesty policy shown below, and that you agree to abide by it.

Class

Do

• • 1. 1. Talk to people around you during pair-share discussion, and during pair group discussion clicker questions

Don't

• • 1. 1. Enter answers for someone else to give them clicker points

       2. Communicate with someone else in class during individual clicker questions

Lab

Security cameras monitor work done in labs, and logs for university log-on activity can be requested when necessary.

Do

• • 1. 1. Collaborate with your lab partner and in conversation with other groups around you during regular lab activities

Don't

1. Communicate with anyone besides a course instructor or TA during a lab quiz or test

2. Send or receive online quiz, lab assignment, or lab test password information

3. Use a solution to a lab assignment that you find online that someone else wrote

4. Collaborate on a lab with one or more people outside of the lab context

Programs

We use an automatic cheating-verification program that is capable of detecting partial logical similarities of code. Don't even take the risk!

Do

1. 1. 1. 1. Discuss conceptual solutions to assignment coding problems, both in-person and online

         2. Show people your code in-person, and describe it (but no electronic copies!)

         3. Assist classmates in determining why her code doesn't work

         4. Post a few lines of code online to illustrate some problem and get help in finding a solution

         5. Post and discuss your program solutions after the deadline has passed

Don't

1. Send or post an electronic copy of a draft or finished version of your program before the assignment deadline

2. Represent someone else's code as your own. (If you can find it online, so can we!)

3. Have someone else write your program, either in person or online

4. Write someone else's program

Exams

Do

1. 1. 1. 1. Bring in paper copies of books and anything else you want

Don't

1. 1. 1. 1. Communicate with another person during an exam

         2. Use electronic devices or electronic resources (e.g. phones, smart watches, tablets, computers, etc.)

         3. Look at someone else's work during an exam or allow them to look at yours.

         4. On an exam you may be asked to sign the following:

I, _____________________________, certify that I will not do and have not done anything during this exam to give me an unfair academic advantage.

Unless specifically allowed by the instructor, during the exam I will not and did not: 1. Use any electronic devices or resources; 2. Consult any book or course-related materials; 3. Communicate with or look at any other person's work.

I understand that violating this honor code will result in an Academic Integrity Incident Report to the UIC Office of the Dean of Students, which will become part of my academic record and may result in suspension, termination, or denial of a degree from UIC.

Signature: __________________________________________

Any student who fails to follow the academic honesty policy on any course work will get a grade of 0 on that work and will be dropped a letter grade at the end of the semester, for each offense. This penalty applies to all prohibited behavior listed above in the Don't categories, unless specifically allowed by the instructor. Academic dishonesty will result in an Academic Integrity Incident Report go.uic.edu/academicIR going to the UIC Office of the Dean of Students. Details are given on the Academic Integrity page, which includes a link to the Student Disciplinary Policy.